Susceptibility of the Elderly to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: ACE-2 Overexpression, Shedding, and Antibody-dependent Enhancement (ADE).
The world is currently facing a serious SARS-CoV-2 infection pandemic. </mac_aq>This virus is a new isolate of coronavirus, and the current infection crisis has surpassed the SARS and MERS epidemics</mac_aq> that occurred in 2002 and 2013, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 has currently infected more than 142,000 people, causing </mac_aq>5,000 deaths and spreading across more than 130 </mac_aq>countries worldwide. The spreading capacity of the virus clearly demonstrates the potential threat </mac_aq>of respiratory viruses to human health, thereby reiterating to the governments around the world that preventive </mac_aq>health policies and scientific research are pivotal to overcoming the crisis. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes flu-like symptoms in most cases. However, approximately 15% of the patients need hospitalization, and 5% require assisted ventilation, depending on the cohorts studied. What is intriguing, however, is the higher susceptibility of the elderly, especially individuals who are older than 60 years of age, and have comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. In fact, the death rate in this group may be up to 10-12%. Interestingly, children are somehow less susceptible and are not considered as a risk group. Therefore, in this review, we discuss some possible molecular and cellular mechanisms by virtue of which the elderly subjects may be more susceptible to severe COVID-19. Toward this, we raise two main </mac_aq>points, i) increased ACE-2 expression in pulmonary and heart tissues in users of chronic angiotensin 1 </mac_aq>receptor (AT1R) blockers; and ii) antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) after previous exposure to other circulating coronaviruses. We believe that these points are pivotal for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19, and must be carefully addressed by physicians and scientists in the field.
Authors
Jean Pierre Schatzmann Peron; Helder Nakaya
External link
Publication Year
Publication Journal
Associeted Project
Microbiology or Immunology
Lista de serviços
-
Gene regulatory and signaling networks exhibit distinct topological distributions of motifs.Gene regulatory and signaling networks exhibit distinct topological distributions of motifs.
-
Gene signatures of autopsy lungs from obese patients with COVID-19.Gene signatures of autopsy lungs from obese patients with COVID-19.
-
Network Medicine: Methods and ApplicationsNetwork Medicine: Methods and Applications
-
ACE2 Expression Is Increased in the Lungs of Patients With Comorbidities Associated With Severe COVID-19.ACE2 Expression Is Increased in the Lungs of Patients With Comorbidities Associated With Severe COVID-19.
-
Drug repositioning for psychiatric and neurological disorders through a network medicine approach.Drug repositioning for psychiatric and neurological disorders through a network medicine approach.
-
Linking proteomic alterations in schizophrenia hippocampus to NMDAr hypofunction in human neurons and oligodendrocytes.Linking proteomic alterations in schizophrenia hippocampus to NMDAr hypofunction in human neurons and oligodendrocytes.
-
In-depth analysis of laboratory parameters reveals the interplay between sex, age, and systemic inflammation in individuals with COVID-19.In-depth analysis of laboratory parameters reveals the interplay between sex, age, and systemic inflammation in individuals with COVID-19.
-
The evolution of knowledge on genes associated with human diseasesThe evolution of knowledge on genes associated with human diseases
-
Network vaccinology.Network vaccinology.
-
Pyruvate kinase M2 mediates IL-17 signaling in keratinocytes driving psoriatic skin inflammationPyruvate kinase M2 mediates IL-17 signaling in keratinocytes driving psoriatic skin inflammation
-
Transcriptome analysis of six tissues obtained post-mortem from sepsis patientsTranscriptome analysis of six tissues obtained post-mortem from sepsis patients
-
Gene Signatures of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Clinical-Immunological Profiles of Human Infection by Leishmania (L.) chagasi in Amazonian BrazilGene Signatures of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Clinical-Immunological Profiles of Human Infection by Leishmania (L.) chagasi in Amazonian Brazil